How to Enable Automatic WordPress Updates
Automatic updates help keep your WordPress site secure and up to date by automatically installing the latest WordPress core, theme, and plugin updates. This saves time and ensures that your website is always protected from security vulnerabilities and compatibility issues. By default, WordPress automatically applies minor updates, such as security and maintenance patches. However, major updates (e.g., from version 5.7 to 5.8) and updates for plugins and themes are not automatically applied unless you configure WordPress to do so.
In this guide, we’ll explain how to enable automatic updates for WordPress core, themes, and plugins.
Step 1: Enable Automatic Updates for WordPress Core
By default, WordPress enables minor core updates automatically, but major updates (which include new versions of WordPress) are not automatically applied. You can enable automatic updates for major WordPress versions and ensure that your site stays up to date with the latest features and security fixes.
How to Enable Major WordPress Core Updates:
- Edit the wp-config.php File:
- Access your WordPress site via FTP or cPanel File Manager.
- Locate the wp-config.php file in your website’s root directory.
- Open it for editing.
- Add the Code to Enable Major Updates:
- Add the following line of code to your
wp-config.phpfile, just before the line that says “/* That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */”:
define( 'WP_AUTO_UPDATE_CORE', true );
This code forces WordPress to automatically apply major updates in addition to minor ones. - Add the following line of code to your
- Save and Close the File:
- Save the file and upload it back to your server (if using FTP).
Once this code is added, WordPress will automatically apply both minor and major updates. However, this method may not be suitable for every website, especially if you prefer to test major updates first on a staging site before applying them to your live site.
Step 2: Enable Automatic Updates for Themes
WordPress allows you to enable automatic updates for individual themes. Enabling automatic updates ensures that your theme always has the latest features, bug fixes, and security patches.
How to Enable Automatic Updates for Themes:
- Navigate to Installed Themes:
- In the WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance > Themes.
- Enable Automatic Updates:
- Find the theme you want to enable automatic updates for.
- Click the Theme Details button.
- Under the theme’s details page, look for an option called Enable auto-updates (this option is available only for themes from the official WordPress repository).
- Click Enable auto-updates.
Alternatively, you can manage automatic updates for your themes using a plugin like Easy Updates Manager or WP Auto Updater. These plugins allow you to control automatic updates for both themes and plugins in a more granular way.
Step 3: Enable Automatic Updates for Plugins
Plugins are an essential part of WordPress functionality, and it’s critical that they stay updated to avoid security vulnerabilities. You can enable automatic updates for plugins either individually or for all plugins at once.
How to Enable Automatic Updates for Plugins (Individually):
- Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins:
- From your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
- Enable Auto-Updates for Individual Plugins:
- In the plugin list, locate the plugin you want to enable auto-updates for.
- You will see an option labeled Enable auto-updates under each plugin name.
- Click the Enable auto-updates link for each plugin you want to automatically update.
How to Enable Automatic Updates for All Plugins at Once:
If you want to enable automatic updates for all plugins on your site:
- Install the Easy Updates Manager Plugin:
- Install the Easy Updates Manager plugin by going to Plugins > Add New and searching for “Easy Updates Manager.”
- Install and activate the plugin.
- Configure Auto Updates:
- After activation, go to Dashboard > Updates Options in the WordPress dashboard.
- From the settings page, you can select the option to Enable automatic updates for all plugins.
- This will enable automatic updates for all your installed plugins.
Step 4: Monitor Automatic Updates and Manage Preferences
After enabling automatic updates, it’s important to monitor your site to ensure that everything works as expected. While automatic updates provide convenience, sometimes an update can conflict with other elements of your site (such as plugins or themes).
How to Monitor Automatic Updates:
- Check Email Notifications:
- WordPress sends notifications via email when updates are applied. You can check your inbox to confirm when automatic updates happen and whether any issues were reported.
- Use a Logging Plugin:
- You can install a plugin like WP Security Audit Log or Simple History to log automatic updates and track changes. This is especially useful if you have multiple users or need to track the history of updates.
Step 5: Troubleshooting Automatic Updates
Sometimes, automatic updates may fail due to server issues or plugin conflicts. Here are a few troubleshooting steps to take if automatic updates are not working as expected:
- Check for Plugin Conflicts:
- Deactivate all plugins and check if updates are being applied. Reactivate the plugins one by one to identify which plugin might be causing the issue.
- Check Server Configuration:
- Ensure that your web server allows WordPress to fetch updates automatically. Sometimes, issues like restricted file permissions or server firewalls prevent updates from happening.
- Enable Auto-Update Logs:
- Use a plugin like WP Updates Notifier to keep track of update failures and to get notified when updates don’t work.
- Check WordPress Cron Jobs:
- WordPress uses cron jobs to schedule automatic tasks, including updates. If cron jobs are not functioning properly on your server, automatic updates may fail. You can review the cron jobs in your hosting panel or consult with your hosting provider.
Conclusion
Enabling automatic updates for WordPress core, themes, and plugins helps keep your website secure, improves performance, and ensures compatibility with the latest features and bug fixes. However, it’s important to back up your site regularly and monitor automatic updates to avoid potential conflicts.
By following the steps in this guide, you can enable automatic updates on your WordPress site and let the platform manage your updates for you. If you prefer a more hands-on approach, you can control the updates using plugins like Easy Updates Manager or WP Auto Updater.
With automatic updates enabled, you can focus on other aspects of running your site, knowing that your WordPress installation will always be up-to-date and secure.
